NFL Draft 2021: Ex-GM projects 2 Penn State Football alums in 1st-round

Three years removed from Saquon Barkley being chosen No. 2 overall by the NY Giants in 2018 NFL Draft, Penn State Football could be primed to add two more first-round selections to the program’s history.

Inside linebacker Micah Parsons, edge-rusher Jayson Oweh, and tight end Pat Freiermuth all over the potential to off the board in the first-round. Especially if Oweh and Freiermuth impress during the program’s pro day workout next month.

Former general manager Charley Casserly projects Parsons and Oweh as first-round selections, in his debut NFL Mock Draft of 2020.

Casserly projects Parsons as a top-10 pick, to the Detroit Lions at No. 7 overall:

"The Lions are in desperate need of talent throughout the roster. They take the best defensive player in the draft here — if they don’t trade back."

Recently, a current NFL personnel executive tells VictoryBellRings that Parsons has the potential to have a more dynamic and disruptive career than Buccaneers’ All-Pro Devin White.

“He can be a game-changer,” the executive tells VictoryBellRings, on the condition of anonymity so he could speak freely on Parsons as he still consults for several teams. “Devin White, who I loved coming out of LSU, Micah is a much better prospect than him. Devin was very athletic, very fast, you see it on the NFL level.”

Meanwhile, Casserly believes that Oweh could be the New Orleans Saints with the 28th pick:

"Assuming the Saints lose Trey Hendrickson in free agency, they replace the 2020 breakout pass rusher with Penn State’s Oweh."

Oweh has seen is stock rise ahead of the NFL Draft, despite limited production — he did not produce a sack last season. If he posts an impressive time in the 40-yard dash at pro day, in front of what is bound to be representatives from all 32 teams, Oweh is going to further solidify his status as one of the draft’s highest risers.